Method and apparatus usable for mining and mineral exploration

Abstract

A method for mineral analysis of a sample based on detection of NQR and/or NMR signals from a particular substance within a sample includes: setting a frequency of RF pulses to be approximately equal to one of the NQR or NMR frequencies of the substance; setting a set of parameters of the RF pulses to be optimal for the substance; setting a set of receiving parameters to be optimal for the substance; tuning the probe to maximum sensitivity for the signals detected at predetermined frequency and/or to maximum power transfer efficiency for RF pulses transmitted with the probe; transmitting the RF pulses with the probe at said optimal level during a transmitting period to irradiate the sample and excite an NQR or NMR signal in the substance, if present; detecting and processing NQR or NMR signals emitted by the substance; and calculating the concentration of the substance in the sample.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for the mineral analysis of a sample to determine if the sample contains at least a first desired substance, the first desired substance having nuclei responsive to a Nuclear Quadrupole Resonance (NQR) and/or Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) field phenomenon in a local magnetic field, the method comprising:
 exciting and detecting NQR and/or NMR signals from an amount, if present, of the first desired substance within the sample using radio-frequency (RF) pulses;   measuring the intensity of any detected NQR and/or NMR signal;   determining the concentration of the first desired substance in the sample being analyzed based on the intensity of any detected NQR and/or NMR signals; and   receiving and processing at least one response signal to detect a presence of an NQR or NMR signal corresponding to the first desired substance.